Former Canadian hockey star Wayne Gretzky will give a eulogy at the Brian Mulroney’s state funeral next week, according to a government news release.
The funeral ceremony will include religious components, several eulogies, musical interludes and a 19-gun salute at the end.
Gretzky — who was inducted into the Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999 — won four Stanley Cup victories for the Edmonton Oilers, according to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.
Mulroney was prime minister from 1984 to 1993, the same year that Gretzky, who played for the Los Angeles Kings, faced off against the Montreal Canadiens for the Stanley Cup. The finale happened in Montreal, where the Canadiens won the cup.
Mulroney died on Feb. 29. The funeral for Canada’s 18th prime minister will be held on March 23.
Other people who plan to deliver eulogies include:
- The Governor General of Canada Mary Simon
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
- Caroline Mulroney, daughter of the former prime minister and Ontario MP
- Pierre Karl Péladeau
- James Baker
- Jean Charest, premier of Quebec
Members of the public will be able to visit the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in Ottawa to pay respects to Mulroney from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on March 19 and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 20.
People can view a webpage to learn more about Mulroney’s life and people can also watch the funeral cortege and the ceremony live on the Canadian Heritage’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
